Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CA 11 012
Apply for RFA CA 11 012
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Answers to NCIs Provocative Questions (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 25, 2011 and posted on Aug 25, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 14, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions (R21) (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-11-012) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity from the National Cancer Institute designed to push cancer research in directions that are important but often overlooked. The central idea is to support projects that directly tackle a set of specific scientific problems and paradoxes identified by NCI as the "Provocative Questions" (PQs). Rather than covering every area of cancer research, these PQs are intentionally selective and challenge-driven. They are meant to steer researchers toward questions that could unlock progress if approached with fresh thinking, strong experimental design, and genuinely innovative strategies. A notable theme is that some PQs come from older, intriguing observations that were never fully followed up, meaning the FOA encourages teams to revisit neglected findings with modern tools, updated datasets, and new conceptual frameworks.
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is generally geared toward exploratory or developmental research. In practice, that means the program is well suited for early-stage ideas, high-risk/high-reward concepts, pilot studies, and proof-of-concept work that can open up a new line of investigation. The goal is not incremental work, but research that can produce clear insights into the stated paradoxes and gaps represented by the PQs. The projects should be grounded in sound science, but they are also expected to be creative in their approach, including new methodologies or unconventional hypotheses where justified.
The FOA sits broadly within cancer research and spans multiple NIH cancer-related activity areas reflected in the CFDA listings: Cancer Cause and Prevention Research (93.393), Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research (93.394), Cancer Treatment Research (93.395), and Cancer Biology Research (93.396). That range signals that eligible projects can address many stages of the cancer continuum, from basic mechanisms through detection and clinical relevance, as long as the proposal is clearly tied to one of NCI's identified Provocative Questions. Cost sharing or matching is not required, which reduces barriers for applicants who may not have access to institutional matching funds.
The award ceiling listed is $200,000, indicating an upper limit on the amount that can be requested under this announcement. As with many R21 opportunities, that cap aligns with the intent to fund focused, exploratory research rather than large, multi-site efforts. The program is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument type. The announcement was posted and created on Aug 25, 2011, with an original and current closing date of Nov 14, 2011, and an archive date of Dec 15, 2011, meaning this specific FOA is no longer open but remains relevant as a reference point for the structure and goals of NCI's PQ initiative.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organization types. Eligible applicants include state governments and county governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as specified); small businesses; and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The eligibility language also explicitly includes a number of institution categories often highlighted in federal research funding, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Importantly, non-U.S. entities are eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations can also participate. Foreign components, as defined under NIH Grants Policy, are allowed, which supports international collaboration or research that requires access to populations, specimens, or expertise outside the United States.
For applicants looking for the official text, NCI provided an additional information link through the NIH Grants Guide: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-11-012.html. For access or technical issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity called?
The opportunity is titled Research Answers to NCI's Provocative Questions (R21), Funding Opportunity Number RFA-CA-11-012.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to push cancer research toward important but often overlooked directions by supporting projects that directly address NCI-identified scientific problems and paradoxes known as the Provocative Questions (PQs).
What are the "Provocative Questions" (PQs) in this context?
The Provocative Questions are a set of specific, challenge-driven scientific questions identified by NCI. They are intentionally selective and are meant to steer researchers toward problems where fresh thinking, strong experimental design, and innovative strategies could unlock meaningful progress.
Does this opportunity support any cancer research topic, or only certain topics?
It is not meant to cover every area of cancer research. Projects must be clearly tied to one of NCI's identified Provocative Questions, which are selective by design.
What kinds of research approaches does NCI want to see under this FOA?
The FOA encourages genuinely innovative strategies, strong experimental design, and creative approaches, including new methodologies or unconventional hypotheses where justified. It also encourages revisiting neglected or older observations using modern tools, updated datasets, and new conceptual frameworks.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is generally intended for exploratory or developmental research.
What types of projects are a good fit for an R21 under this announcement?
Based on the description provided, it is well suited for early-stage ideas, high-risk/high-reward concepts, pilot studies, and proof-of-concept work that can open new lines of investigation focused on the stated PQs.
Is incremental research the goal of this FOA?
No. The stated goal is not incremental work, but research that produces clear insights into the paradoxes and gaps represented by the Provocative Questions.
What cancer research areas can this funding cover?
The FOA sits broadly within cancer research and spans multiple NIH cancer-related activity areas reflected in CFDA listings: Cancer Cause and Prevention Research (93.393), Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research (93.394), Cancer Treatment Research (93.395), and Cancer Biology Research (93.396). Projects can address many stages of the cancer continuum as long as they are tied to a Provocative Question.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The award ceiling listed is $200,000, indicating the upper limit on the amount that can be requested under this announcement.
What does the $200,000 award ceiling imply about the scope of projects?
The description indicates the cap aligns with the intent to fund focused, exploratory research rather than large, multi-site efforts.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The program is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument type.
When was this FOA posted and when did it close?
The announcement was posted/created on Aug 25, 2011. The original and current closing date listed is Nov 14, 2011, and the archive date is Dec 15, 2011.
Is this funding opportunity still open for applications?
No. Based on the closing and archive dates provided, this specific FOA is no longer open and remains available as a reference point for the structure and goals of NCI's Provocative Questions initiative.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, including: state governments, county governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status, as specified), small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and other designated institution types included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes categories often highlighted in federal research funding, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are non-U.S. entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The information provided states that non-U.S. entities are eligible to apply.
Can non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations participate?
Yes. The eligibility description states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations can participate.
Are foreign components allowed under this FOA?
Yes. Foreign components (as defined under NIH Grants Policy) are allowed, supporting international collaboration or projects requiring access to populations, specimens, or expertise outside the United States.
Where can applicants find the official FOA text and details?
NCI provided an additional information link through the NIH Grants Guide: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-11-012.html.
Who should be contacted for access or technical issues related to the FOA information page?
For access or technical issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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